The Portland daily press., 1887-08-22
The PRESS.
MORNING, AUG. es.
WAS ITIDEAL OR REAL?
IChrlstian Register.l

doubt it, for both acknowledged the fact
They had met at the artistic society, anC
there discovered the fact that both were low
ers. Their love was Of very high order; il
grasped the ideal. Do not for one moment
think that they were in love with one anoth-
er; for if that had been the case they would
have met at the sea shore, and Cupid would
have walked with them on the sands of the
shore and would have spoken in the soft
murmurs of the waves; or If among the
mountains he would have floated down on
the moonlight: but nothing of this kind had
happened. They just loved art, that was all
Her name was Madeline Holmes. She had
come from the ''sunny South" to New York
in search of art. The perfumes of the
orange and the magnolia, and all the beau,
ties which the landscapes of the South pos
sess had filled her heart with love of the
beautiful. Nothing short of such a love
would have drawn ner away from home ant
friends to great city, where she was un
known and alone. Charles Irving had come
from the mountains and canons of the "fal
West, also in search of art. nature wild.
or than that which surrounded her sunny
home had filled his heart with love like
hers.
"How strange it is that such different sur
roundings should have inspired within us
the same love-" he said to her one evening,
as they were at the society"
"Yes, indeed" Madeline replied, "what an
omnipresent lover nature is; she has won us
both and yet we were so far apart"
Enn oil 7
can be OF great help to each other in our
study and love of art. Majestic mountains
and grand canons have, fear, rather des-
troyed my sense Of finer beauty. Nature is
too pretentious there. Her mien is too
naughty: but you, reared amidst a more
kindly and tender nature, may help me to
grasp the finer beauties"
And you can help me, Mr.. Irving, with
something of your reliance and severity. If
you choose to call it so. l fear should be
overpowered amidst the grandeur of which
you speak. But we will form mutual aid
society of two, If you like, to help each 9TH
er in the pursuit Of art"
We'll, as others are getting ready to go,
perhaps we had better go too; we can talk
over the bylaws and constitution of our 'mu-
tual aid society on the way home"
so saying they Joined the throng of artists
and musicians who were taking their leave
and still were busy talking over the coming
and other artistic matters. After they had
arrived at Miss Holmes cosy quarters she
Invited him in, as they had not fully agreed
upon the rules of the prospective society.
Although Charles. or Karl as his name was
neatly engraved ON his visiting card, with
ARTS Club, Fifth avenue" in the lower left
hand corner, had often noticed how charm
ing everything was about the room, he could
not keep from glancing around at the dainty
furniture and thinking how well such sur
roundings were fitted for an artistic soul.
Wen, said Madeline, this society is then
to be for the study of art alone. We are to
talk art, read art, dream art, and if it were
possible. eat art"
"Yes,'' replied Karl, "art shall be the
motto, constitution ard epitaph; the latter,
though, l hope we shall not want very
SOON"
NOW, Mr.. Irving do not be shocked if
suggest that the ideal is not always the sub
stantial, and that a cup of tea, rolls, cake,
1rult and other Ike delicacies are, and that
we indulge in these things"
Il have not sustained so severe a shock
that have lost my appetite" laughingly re-
piled Karl; but suggest that hereafter the
members OF this society drop the formal
titles of Mr.. and Miss, and that we substi-
tute the Christian names of the members in
stead"
"oh!' family sighed Madeline, as she
stopped pouring the tea.
do you object, then?" asked Karl, with
an amused smile on his face.
20 no, not that, | only burnt me-"
At this both laughed.
Il think" continued Madeline shat MIR.
and Miss are too formal Now, Karl is a
true artistic name; why, lots of artists have
the name Karl; it seems to belong to art.
When | see the name i always think it be-
longs to an artist; and Madeline well" af-
yer q thoughtful pause, ''that is mot so artis-
tic"
but more poetic" put in Karl.
Madeline blushed slightly and looked at
him inquirlngly "Oh yes, | suppose it is
poetic; but then | am not poetic in roman
JIG sense. | dislike the dull, work-a-day
world, and dislike what is termed romance
Or romantic, even more"
''0h, so do l." replied Karl. Now, our
meeting and our love for art might lead to
very romantic, and we might be
guilty Of all the denominations of loye-sick
young people, but we will not, for we are
not so silly as that"
mo, indeed" protested Madeline, ''no
mutual admiration society of that charac-
ter for me. We love art for arts sake. l,
for my part, do not believe in romantic fan
cies and follies. But now, Mr., lrv, :, Karl, |
should say, we must not neglect these eata-
bles in our disgust at lovers plants and
signs. My good landlady will feel sighted
If we don't do justice to whatsshe has sent
up"
Then both were silent for little. The
clock on the mantel over the fireplace had
set both to thinking. Nothing was heard
for little time but the silvery clinking of
the china cups as they touched their fragile
sides with their spoons in slipping the tea.
Karl broke the silence by saying:
do you know, was thinking OF your
name? 1t seems significant of the sunny
land of flowers and fountains and the palm;
and it is so musical, too"
YES" said Madeline, overwhelmingly.
So "a -. L..
see, have spelled it ht-M-a-d-e-l-i-e-n2 ?"
''No, Inc"
"Oh! Well, can't rub it out"
NOW that's romantic" protested Made
line.
why not at ALL l haven't an eraser"
20, that's splendid OF you," exclaimed
Madeline, laughing and spatting her hands
merrily.
What is splendid9' asked Karl, little
mystihed.
why, for you to say that you did not have
an eraser and could not rub it out; that was
not romantic bit"
20, l see" said Karl, laughingly; swell, /
have it now spelled both ways"
They had now done very well indeed by
the little spread, as both declared; and Karl
insisted that she should sing to him, and
ments So both went to the upright piano
which stood in the cosy little alcove; Made
line chose Hene's "Lorelei," which List
has set to such exquisite music. Madeline
astonished Karl by the feeling and express
sion which she put into the song.
II have notion of trying to win your
love from painting to music" said Karl
when she had finished; you must certainly
sing more and must be heard. | am going to
speak to the director of the music festival
about you, and have him put you down on
the programme"
mo indeed You shall do nothing Of the
KIND. Neither can you win my love from
painting. We must make another bylaw to
our society | see. 1t shall be this, that mel
Their shall entertain thought of anything
but art, or that we both confine our love to
canvas, in other words"
well, agreed to that" said Karl, ''but
you must sing to me at least"
"We shall see," laughed Madeline, "bur
now you shall see my academy piece. |
have not mentioned it to you, hoping that
might finish it, but / am in perfect despair
over it. ! am going to ask you to aid me.
Come, and you shall see."
IL i. L a